December
23, 2003
Sheraton/Banknorth Classic
Gutterson
Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vt.
THE
FIELD
Saturday,
December 27
Dartmouth
vs. Massachusetts, 4 p.m. ET
Minnesota State at Vermont, 7 p.m. ET
Sunday,
December 28
Dartmouth vs. Minnesota State, 4 p.m. ET
Massachusetts at Vermont, 7 p.m. ET
LAST
YEAR
Dartmouth
won the tournament, held in Hanover, by scoring 16 goals
in wins over Notre Dame and UMass Lowell. Hugh Jessiman
made scouts wonder why in the world he wasn’t playing
at the World Junior Championship by scoring four goals in
a 10-2 rout of the River Hawks in the title game.
INTERESTING
HISTORICAL FACT
As noted,
Dartmouth hosts this event in alternate years as the Ledyard
National Bank Auld Lang Syne Classic. In its last visit
to Burlington, in 2001, it was the Sheraton/Howard Bank
Classic. Now under the name of a third bank sponsor, it
tries a different format, too – predetermined matchups
for both days.
WHO
TO WATCH
 |
| Minnesota State's Shane Joseph was the nation's top returning scorer from last year. He has 8-10-18 in 16 games this season. |
About the only thing better than the last-second goal Minnesota State’s David Backes scored Friday night against Denver was his celebration. He’s a fun player who’s worth watching. But the guy who really makes the Mavericks go is 5-foot-9 Shane Joseph, who had three of the Mavericks’ seven goals in their remarkable Saturday night comeback win.
Dartmouth and Massachusetts have a couple of world-class talents who are familiar names in college hockey at this point – the Big Green’s big Hugh Jessiman, and the Minutemen’s Thomas Pock. Don’t overlook a couple of skilled forwards, though: Dartmouth’s Lee Stempniak, who piles up points in Jessiman’s shadow, and Massachusetts’ Chris Capraro, who does all the little things well.
It’s been a slow start for just about all involved at Vermont, but one Catamount worth watching, if you’re a visitor in Burlington, is Jeff Miles. A 19-goal scorer last year, he’s only got four this year, but has the offensive skills to break out at any time. He had a goal in last Saturday’s win.
HOW
WE SEE IT
The fact that Minnesota State took three points last weekend against Denver in such dramatic fashion seems to give the Mavericks a huge edge. Unless they suffer a letdown (how’s that for a qualifier?), you have to think they’ll come out flying, a gear or two ahead of their opponents. They’ve had a rough first half (4-9-3 after reaching the NCAAs last year) and that kind of weekend could prove to be a springboard.
Of course, they face a Vermont team Friday night that’s also riding an emotional high, having posted its first win of the season in overtime last week. Granted, beating UConn doesn’t quite match up with Denver, but a win is a win – especially when it’s your first.
Saturday’s other matchup, Massachusetts vs. Dartmouth, is the most appealing of the weekend, and is pretty meaningful for both teams. They each reside in INCH’s top 16, but here’s another similarity: they both lack a real quality win. Sure, Dartmouth beat Brown – a team we think is awfully good – but the Big Green are 1-2-1 outside the conference. Here’s a chance to post a good win, with one of UMass’s star forwards, Stephen Werner, in Finland with the U.S. National Junior Team.
It’s the only event this weekend where two teams could come away with a weekend sweep – and somehow, it doesn’t seem that unlikely if Minnesota State and Massachusetts play well. Then again, Dartmouth could easily wreck both teams’ hopes and post a sweep of its own.
